What is Autism?

Autism is a broad-spectrum neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before age three, to some degree, and last for more than six months. Children with autism may also have unusual responses to sensory experiences.

There is no known one cause for autism, but genetics and certain environmental factors are believed to be involved. Some studies suggest that there may be abnormalities in the brain at birth, while others show that brain changes occur as a result of abnormal development over time.

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because it affects each person differently—some people have mild symptoms that cause few difficulties, while others have severe symptoms and are disabled by their symptoms. Autism can also vary greatly in terms of which symptoms are present and how severely they affect daily functioning.

It’s important not to mistake the symptoms of autism with other disorders such as deafness or mental retardation. One of the big differences between autism and many other disorders is that autistic people tend to have normal or above-average intelligence. Some high-functioning autistic adults may even be considered “geniuses” in some fields; a notable example is Temple Grandin, who’s considered a pioneer of animal welfare.

What are the Causes of Autism?

The causes of autism are not entirely known, and research on the subject is ongoing. Autism is a brain disorder that causes individuals to struggle with social interaction and communication, and there is still much to be learned about what types of developmental problems cause autism. The most widely accepted theory suggests that autism is caused by a variety of genetic factors interacting with environmental factors during pregnancy and early development. Recent studies have identified several genes that may increase the chances of developing autism, although none are consistently present in all autistic individuals.

Other studies suggest that some people with autism were exposed to high levels of testosterone before birth, while yet others point to environmental pollutants or infections in the mother’s system during pregnancy as possible culprits. Some research even suggests that in rare cases, the condition can be inherited from other family members who have the condition themselves.

7 Famous People With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), for kids diagnosed with ASD the world can still feel lonely. ASD affects all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but it remains largely misunderstood. Given the unique constellation of symptoms for each child, treatment and goals vary widely. While some children with ASD will exhibit difficulty with socializing and communicating with others, others might have behavioral symptoms.

Though learning to manage symptoms and work toward specific goals takes time and practice, on thing is for certain: Kids with ASD can achieve success in their fields of interest. Check out these ASD success stories.

1. Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd is an actor and humorist best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and movies like The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, and Driving Miss Daisy. He has two children, both of whom have been diagnosed with autism. Aykroyd has become an outspoken advocate for autism awareness and research funding.

The actor and comedian known for his work on Saturday Night Live, The Blues Brothers, and several Hollywood blockbusters, has done a great deal to bring public awareness to autism.

Aykroyd was inspired to start the charity after his son, who has autism, was almost excluded from his local high school because of his difficulties with social interaction. He stepped in and raised enough money to provide funding for a full-time teaching assistant for his son’s education.

Since then, Aykroyd’s charity has raised $10 million dollars to provide funding and advocacy for those affected by autism in Canada. The charity has also been active in the United States since 1999.

In addition to raising funds for individuals with autism, Aykroyd has been able to raise awareness of the condition itself. His efforts have helped people understand that autism is not a mental illness but rather a neurological disorder affecting three million children and adults across North America.

2. Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle is an impoverished woman who was on a British reality show called “Britain’s Got Talent”. She has no formal education, but she managed to sing an opera song that blew the judges away. Her performance became an internet sensation, and Susan Boyle became famous for the first time in her life.

Since she got famous, Susan Boyle has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, which is a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She has since received help from experts who have helped her deal with some of the symptoms that come along with ASD. It’s important to note that ASD is not something that you can catch from someone else—it isn’t infectious, and there’s nothing wrong with Susan Boyle herself. It’s just a disorder that affects how people learn, think, and behave in social situations. There are many kinds of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), including Asperger’s syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD), pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and others. Many people believe that autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

3. Albert Einstein

Many people know Albert Einstein as a famous physicist and Nobel Prize winner. However, Einstein is also one of the most famous individuals in history to have autism.

A disorder characterized by difficulties in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors, autism can affect a person’s ability to function independently. However, there is no single, accepted definition of autism. As a result, official estimates of its prevalence vary widely.

In the United States, at the end of 2006 (the most recent year for which data are available), 1 in 166 8-year-old children had been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This represents a 30% increase from 2002, when 1 in 150 children was identified with ASD.

Autism is different for everyone. Some people have problems with how they behave, and some get very upset when they have to do something they don’t want to do. But many other people don’t show any signs at all. They seem normal and they act like everyone else.

There are more boys than girls with autism, but doctors aren’t sure why this is true. There is no cure for autism, but some children get better over time.

4. Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is known for her advocacy of humane treatment for animals; she is also an autistic woman. Temple was born in 1947, and was diagnosed with autism when she was a young child. She had trouble making eye contact and getting along with others, and her teachers thought that she would never learn to read or write. But eventually, Temple’s parents decided to take her out of public school in order to try a different type of schooling that catered to her special needs. It worked! Temple started making progress in reading, writing, and socializing. When she was 13 years old, she even started working as a cattle rancher’s assistant. She knew how the cattle felt; she recognized the signs of fear and confusion in them—and so she could help the rancher work with them more effectively.

5. Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah is a legendary actress who has starred in films like Splash, Steel Magnolias and Kill Bill. She is also an activist for environmental causes and for those with autism.

The actress was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the age of forty-one. The disorder falls on the autism spectrum and can cause difficulty in social communication and interaction skills, as well as restricted interests. Hannah was born deaf, but lost her hearing as a preteen. She had to wear a cochlear implant when she was fifty years old to be able to hear again. At the same time, she discovered that she also had autism.

¨I thought I was just shy,¨ Hannah told People magazine in February 2015. ¨Then I found out later on that I have Asperger’s [syndrome]. That changed my life dramatically.”

Growing up, she was bullied by other children because she was different. It got so bad that she stuttered whenever she spoke to anyone other than her parents or babysitter. She stopped speaking entirely between the ages of seven and eleven years old. After that point, she felt more comfortable talking with people outside of her family and started making friends in school.

6. Sir Anthony Hopkins

Sir Anthony Hopkins is an acclaimed actor who has won two Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. He is also known for his role as the fictional villain Hannibal Lecter in the 1991 thriller The Silence of the Lambs, which earned him a nomination for a BAFTA Award.

Sir Anthony Hopkins is also the father of three children and grandfather to eight grandchildren. His oldest son, Abigail, was diagnosed with autism at age 3. Although his son was diagnosed with autism, Sir Anthony Hopkins did not seek any professional help and instead relied on his own observations and advice from other parents of autistic children he met. He felt that Abigail’s autism was a result of himself and partner Petronella Barker’s failure to understand him. In an interview with The Daily Mirror, he said: “I thought he was just like this weird child until Petronel told me he’d been tested for autism.”

In order to help Abigail, Sir Anthony Hopkins took interest in learning all about autism and teaching himself how to communicate with his son using techniques such as repetition and visual aids. He told The Daily Mirror: “I started talking to him like a baby again.” Eventually, he began taking lessons on how to best teach autistic children with communication skills.

7. Heather Kuzmich

While Heather Kuzmich’s diagnosis of autism made her one of the most recognizable faces in the autism community, it was her work in writing and blogging that really brought her to an international audience. Her blog, “Friendly Aspie,” which she started in 2009, provided an outlet for people like herself to discuss their daily lives, answer questions about autism, and advocate for themselves. As a person who has experienced multiple forms of discrimination on and off the internet, it is gratifying to know that my words are reaching those who are going through similar experiences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Autism is a very serious disorder that can cause any number of problems for an individual, especially those with severe cases. Even so, the word “disorder” does not mean that Autism is something negative or bad; it’s simply a difference in how people think and perceive the world. It’s important to remember that Autism is a spectrum, meaning it can range in severity from one person to another. In fact, many people with Autism lead relatively normal lives—and there is even hope for those who suffer from more serious forms of the condition in which medication can provide relief. In order to diagnose someone with Autism, doctors must use specific criteria established by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This manual contains descriptions of all recognized mental health disorders, such as autism-spectrum disorder and Asperger syndrome.